Doing Interface Ecology: The Practice of Metadisciplinarity Andruid Kerne Interface Ecology Lab | Center for Study of Digital Libraries Computer Science Dept., Texas A&M University Abstract What are the systems of representation that are The interface can be modeled as an ecosystem: con- brought into relationships by interfaces? Let's start with nected, dynamic, and characterized by relationships. a simple example: a typical personal computer, con- This model is predicated on a process of working with nected to the Internet. Immediately, we have the "sen- the interface as a border zone between heterogeneous sation systems" of a human being seeing a computer systems of representation. This paper uses sensation, screen, touching a mouse and a keyboard. The physi- embodiment, and semiotics to initiate this work cal is translated into the electronic, and vice versa. process by addressing the range of systems of repre- The analog representations from the physical, real sentation that are involved in its own production. This world are converted to and from the digital representa- "presence of the theorist" creates a self-referential tions processed by the computer. We have layers of metastructure. hardware and software. By referring to a "typical per- sonal computer," I meant to suggest Intel processors As an alternative to the beneficial but ad-hoc assem- and a Microsoft Operating System. Thus, we have the blages of multi-, inter-, and transdisciplinary approach- old anti-trust litigation between Apple and Microsoft, es, the ecosystems approach proposes that the mesh- and more current jostlings with Linux and those who ing of systems of representation is an inherent proper- believe in free software. Somewhere in this scenario, ty of interface phenomena. The meshing process the voices of the hardware and software engineers are causes elements from the involved representational echoing. Perhaps they worked very long hours; per- systems to recombine and form hybrids. Recombinant haps they were content with their rewards; perhaps information is a structural formula for creating new they felt exploited. knowledge, which can be intentionally invoked for that purpose. The interface of the personal computer puts the user in touch The theorist is part of the environment that s/he theo- rizes about. The products of theorizing are information with the assemblers, in a tactile artifacts that are also part of the environment; they and economical way. The eco- themselves function as interfaces. The term metadisci- plinary is developed here in order to describe the nomic relationships leave a sticky inherent and self-referential nature of this structure. trail of money that gets under my The structure of metadisciplinarity connects theory and fingernails. As I close the case practice, which stands in direct contrast with other studies approaches such as performance studies, and get back to writing this paper, which separates itself from theater practice. I worry it might gum up the keyboard. Border zones where systems of representation meet An interface is a border zone where systems of Those working on the "low level" manufacturing were representation come into contact. It is a mem- probably women. [2] Among these, the ones who built brane, regulating the exchange of vital messages the primary circuit board, known as the motherboard, from one side to the other. The more open the were probably Chinese. [3] Let's open the machine's membrane, the more flow, the more new combina- case and check it out. Perusing the motherboard, inte- tions that an interface supports. Particular mem- grated circuit labels indicate that they were made in brane structures can act as filters, tuning feedback countries such as China (again), Malaysia, the loops. Philippines, El Salvador, and Guatemala. According to -- Interface Ecosystem, The Fundamental Unit of the LABORSTA database of the International Labour Information Age Ecology [1] Organization, the average female electronic equipment assembler in China earned $106 per month during Intelligent Agent 6.1.1 interface.kerne.01 2000. [4] The interface of the personal computer puts the user in touch with the assemblers, in a tactile and We have yet to begin browsing, to economical way. The economic relationships leave a encounter "content." Yet, already, sticky trail of money that gets under my fingernails. As I feel like I am caught in the sticky I close the case and get back to writing this paper, I worry it might gum up the keyboard. web of a horror movie or, at least, a haunted house. I am typing this So many relationships already, and we have not yet gotten to the network. There are some open standards paper in Microsoft Word, wanting here, the TCP/IP protocol stack, and higher level pro- to experience a blank slate for tocols such as HTTP for the Web, SMTP and POP for writing but yearnings for a tabula e-mail. There are standards, too, for declarative lan- guages such as Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) rasa give way to the multilayered and Cascading Style Sheets (CSS). Of course, no web reality of a highly structured, browser is complete without the potential for search. So Google is here, too. complex ecosystem of entities and representations. There are At the time of this writing, it seems that there is an too many windows, too many 85% likelihood that the web browser used by people accessing the Web is Microsoft Internet Explorer. [5] menus, too many entries, too So here we have another of Microsoft's anti-trust litiga- many buttons. tion scenarios, this one involving Netscape. The U.S. Department of Justice and the Sherman Antitrust law In my web browser, I jump from a background article have a presence. So have various states and judges, in an industry rag [9] to the <<conference or journal and the European Union. Operating systems, applica- x>> web site to the New York Times for today's news. I tion systems, legal systems, economic systems, drop in on Slashdot, then move on to the ACM Digital national systems, international systems, and multina- Library for more research, then to whatisthematrix.com tional systems are interconnected in complex flows. to find a link to a video, which I connect to an entry about Baudrillard's concept of hyperreality in the site Writing this, I am sitting in front of an IBM laptop, so for the metadisciplinary undergraduate class -- product designers are represented, too. Selker's work "Structures of Interactive Information" -- that I am on the Trackpoint sits in front of me. [6] So does the teaching. [10] The hyperreal refers to the replacement brand identity of Big Blue. Paul Rand's logo is present of real world representations, relationships, and values and accounted for. In my memory, a legion of ad cam- by electronic ones. [11] I keep myself over-stimulated paigns reverberates, from "Solutions for A Small to the point of anxiety, I am saturated with information, Planet," to "His name is Linux… The future is open." out of habit. The sound over sound sounds muddy. This little computer is a meeting point for many codes. Vast infrastructures of research and production are at Codes of signification. Codes of automata: operators work; universities, national labs, and corporations and operands. Codes of expression. Codes of control. carve out highly connected roles. [7] They constitute A mesh of media renderings, disciplinary structures of the social relations of digital production; they selective- methodology, cultural groundings, and epistemological ly filter what gets produced, and what gets omitted. foundations is formed. As I consider all these systems of representation that are in play, all of this significa- We have yet to begin browsing, to encounter "con- tion, I return to the start of this exegesis, to the role of tent." Yet, already, I feel like I am caught in the sticky my body-mind. I return to sensation, the core of user web of a horror movie or, at least, a haunted house. I experience. I turn to phenomenology (Merleau-Ponty): am typing this paper in Microsoft Word, wanting to "The sensor and the sensible do not stand in relation experience a blank slate for writing but yearnings for a to each other as two mutually external terms… It is my tabula rasa give way to the multilayered reality of a gaze which subtends colour … In this transaction highly structured, complex ecosystem of entities and between the subject of sensation and the sensible it representations. There are too many windows, too cannot be held that one acts while the other suffers many menus, too many entries, too many buttons. The the action, or that one confers significance on the magical number that defines the capacity of working other." [12] memory, 7±2, is violated repeatedly. [8] Branded tool- bars pervade the digital parchment. I <alt-tab> back According to Merleau-Ponty, sensation is an active and forth from the word processor to web browsers, process. Sensation situates the individual in her envi- scanning for supporting materials, and then writing ronment. In the field of artificial intelligence and robot- some more. Icons trail my every move. ics, Brooks' model of embodiment operates similarly: Intelligent Agent 6.1.1 interface.kerne.02 perception and action are integrated through cognition. ratory, "a site … through which artists, scientists, tech- [13] Through the process of sensation, through per- nologists, and theorists commingle" [24] and mentions ception and action connected, at the nexus of the ZKM, Banff, Ars Electronica, and IRCAM as examples. interface, I encounter all of these systems of represen- Gibbons [25], Norman [26], Century [27], and Ascott tation, their forms as media, the rules that govern their [28] call these assemblages transdisciplinary -- trans- production and the subversions that attempt to coun- disciplinary research is said to "interpenetrate discipli- tervail the underlying epistemologies, and their nary epistemologies" [29]; it is "transgressive." [30] methodologies of practice.